title: Combination treatment with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab and reduced fluence photodynamic therapy for choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks: preliminary clinical results of 12-month follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate combination treatment with intravitreal ranibizumab injection and reduced fluence photodynamic therapy for choroidal neovascularization associated with angioid streaks.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an interventional case series of 10 previously untreated eyes of 10 patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to angioid streaks. All eyes were treated with reduced fluence photodynamic therapy using 25 J/cm, immediately followed by intravitreal ranibizumab injection at baseline, and subsequent injections were performed on an as-needed basis thereafter. Treatment efficacy was assessed based on best-corrected visual acuity and optical coherence tomography findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 months of follow-up, the best-corrected visual acuity improved by >2 lines in 6 eyes (60%), remained within 2 lines of baseline in 3 eyes (30%), and decreased by ≥ 3 lines in only 1 eye (10%). The mean central foveal thickness decreased significantly from 332.2 μm at baseline to 235.7 μm at the last follow-up (P < 0.001), as measured by optical coherence tomography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The preliminary results of this prospective study indicate that combination treatment with intravitreal ranibizumab injection and reduced fluence photodynamic therapy for choroidal neovascularization associated with angioid streaks seems to be effective in reducing or eliminating retinal edema, regression of neovascularization, and improving or stabilizing visual acuity without any complications. Large controlled studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of this combination regimen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul Bilim University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Artunay
authors.forename: Erdal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yuzbasioglu
authors.forename: Rifat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rasier
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sengul
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Senel
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bahcecioglu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000793:Angioid Streaks / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011561:Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069579:Ranibizumab